Detain meaning
To keep from proceeding; delay or retard.
Our friends were detained by heavy traffic.
verb
To detain is defined as to keep someone somewhere or cause someone to be unable to proceed.
When police keep a suspect at the station for questioning, this is an example of a situation where the police detain the suspect.
verb
To keep in custody or confinement.
The police detained several suspects for questioning.
verb
To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).
verb
To keep in custody; confine.
verb
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To keep from going on; hold back.
verb
To withhold.
verb
Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
verb
To keep back or from; to withhold.
verb
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Origin of detain
- Middle English deteinen from Old French detenir from Vulgar Latin dētenīre from Latin dētinēre dē- de- tenēre to hold ten- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Old French detenir.
From Wiktionary